We’ve learned a lot of ways to save money, and one is to eat at home, but feeding a family is a lot of work. For me, getting dinner on the table every night, after shopping, prepping, cooking, then dishes, dishes and more dishes… if the only reward was saving money, it wouldn’t be enough to keep me going for the long haul. But I have a big reward that’s my biggest motivator for keepin’ on keepin’ on… I look forward to that crowning moment of time with the ones I love! If our dinner table wasn’t something to look forward to most of the time, I know I would have burned out years ago.

I hope this video on “Family Party Time” helps you as it’s helped me to keep meals at home for the long haul!:

To show your commitment to 31 days, go back and comment on our Facebook thread for Day 29 “Family Party Time.” Ask questions, or share some of your ideas on how you make dinner at home special and enjoyable for you and your family. And tell me if you think it helps to motivate you for all your labors and keeps you going!

Optional Additional reading:

There’s a lot more that goes into making “Family Party Time” at your dinner table, more than I can put in a paragraph and a three minute video. Part of it starts with kids in the kitchen. From beginning to end, it’s all a safe and fun place, and we’re all in it together. Here’s something on the topic from “Shop Smart, Save More”:

Chapter 12: All in the Family

Kids, by definition, are fussy eaters. But here’s a little secret I’ll let you in on: they will eat almost anything if they make it themselves. My boys always loved to experiment and whip up their own bizarre dishes (who knew you could eat broccoli with chocolate chips?). Even more fun: give that dish a crazy name, like Alien Asparagus or Monster Meatballs. Just make sure if you have little ones, you supervise all their culinary efforts closely (watch hot stovetops, pointy utensils and even butter knives). You can even encourage them to draw their own menus for the meal while the dish is cooking (a great distraction when they’re whining, “Is it ready yet?”). Remember to have fun and not take things too seriously. Kids will spill and slop and sprinkle flour all over your kitchen floor. That’s what kids do. You want them to feel comfortable in the kitchen, so when you’re old and tired (like me!) and they’re almost all grown, they can make you a meal fit for a queen–and do their own clean-up!…

(End of excerpt from “Shop Smart, Save More” by TeriGault with Sheryl Berk)

For your commitment to 31 days, go back and comment on our Facebook thread for Day 29 “Family Party Time”. Ask questions, or share some of your ideas on how you make dinner at home special and enjoyable for you and your family. And tell me if you think it helps to motivate you for all your labors and keeps you going! http://www.facebook.com/TheGroceryGame
See you tomorrow!